Closure latch

ABSTRACT

A vehicle body door lock includes an inverted fork bolt mounted on the lock frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions and primary and secondary detents mounted on the frame on generally diametrically opposite sides of the bolt pivot for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt. Coaxially mounted with the primary detent is an operating lever which is connected to the outside push button through an intermediate push button lever. A generally J-shaped intermittent member is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to a leg of the operating lever. The linear leg of the intermittent member mounts a tab movable between engaging and bypass positions with respect to a tab of a transfer link. One end of the link is pivoted to the secondary detent and the other end is engageable with the primary detent. The intermittent member is moved between unlocked and locked positions, respectively, corresponding to engaging and bypass positions of the intermittent member tab, by a locking lever coaxially mounted with the secondary detent and operable by a garnish button or key cylinder. The hook leg of the intermittent member includes a tab engageable by the primary detent to move the intermittent member from locked to unlocked positions upon movement of the detent by the bolt. If the outside push button is actuated prior to movement of the detent by the bolt the hook leg tab is moved out of the path of the primary detent. An inside remote handle is connected by a remote lever to the operating lever.

Unite States atent [451 May 30, 1972 Zaydel [54] CLOSURE LATCH [72] Inventor: Wieslaw S. Zaydel, Sterling Heights, Mich. [73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

[221 Filed: Nov. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 86,097

[52] [1.8. CI. ..292/216, 292/DlG. 27 [51] Int. Cl ..E05c 3/26 [58] Field of Search ..292/2 1 6, 280, DIG. 26, DIG. 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,980,460 4/1961 Campbell ..292/280 3,409,321 11/1968 Wolfslayer ..292/216 3,545,800 12/1970 Arlauskos ..292/2l6 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney-W. E. Finken and Herbert Furman [57] ABSTRACT A vehicle body door lock includes an inverted fork bolt and unlatched positions and primary and secondary detents mounted on the frame on generally diametrically opposite sides of the bolt pivot for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt. Coaxially mounted with the primary detent is an operating lever which is connected to the outside push button through an intermediate push button lever. A generally J-shaped intermittent member is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to a leg of the operating lever. The linear leg of the intermittent member mounts a tab movable between engaging and bypass positions with respect to a tab of a transfer link. One end of the link is pivoted to the secondary detent and the other end is engageable with the primary detent. The intermittent member is moved between unlocked and locked positions, respectively, corresponding to engaging and bypass positions of the intermittent member tab, by a locking lever coaxially mounted with the secondary detent and operable by a garnish button or key cylinder. The hook leg of the intermittent member includes a tab engageable by the primary detent to move the intermittent member from locked to unlocked positions upon movement of the detent by the bolt. If the outside push button is actuated prior to movement of the detent by the bolt the hook leg tab is moved out of the path of the primary detent. An inside remote handle is connected by a remote lever to the operating lever.

PATENTED MAY 30 m2 SHEET 10F 2 Mes/aw yae/ [5 Y ATTORNEY PATENTEnmso m2 3, 666,307

sum 2 OF 2 IN VEA Z k 'F (flies/aw 5. Zayae) MY ATTORNEY CLOSURE LATCH This invention relates to double detent door locks and more particularly to double detent door locks of the type having an intermittent member for selectively coupling and uncoupling the outside operator and the detents.

The door lock of this invention is similar to that shown and described in Ser. No. 726,973 Arlauskas et al, filed May 6, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,545,800 issued Dec. 8, 1970 and assigned to the assignee of this invention. However, it differs from the above-noted lock in that it includes an elongated intermittent member having a linear leg extending alongside the inverted bolt and an arcuate leg extending generally transversely of the opening of the bolt throat. The member is pivoted intermediate the legs thereof to an operating member pivoted to the lock frame between the arcuate leg and bolt throat. The operating member is connected to the outside and inside operators. The linear leg of the intermittent member is movable between connecting and bypass positions with respect to the secondary detent upon movement of the intermittent member between unlocked and locked positions, respectively, by a conventionally controlled locking lever. The primary and secondary detents are interconnected for simultaneous move ment to released position. The arcuate leg is positioned in the path of the primary detent, the locked position of the intermittent member so as to be engaged thereby to move the intermittent member to unlocked position upon movement of the detents by the bolt. The arcuate leg of the intermittent member can also belocated in bypass relationship to the primary detent should the outside operator be actuated prior to movement of the detents by the bolt.

One of the features of the door lock of this invention is that it includes an elongated intermittent member which partially surrounds the bolt and is pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof on an operating member for movement therewith and movement independently thereof between locked and unlocked positions with respect to interconnected primary and secondary detents for the bolt. Another feature is that the intermittent member includes a linear leg extending alongside the bolt and an arcuate leg extending transversely of the bolt throat with the linear leg providing the connection between the intermittent member and one of the detents and the arcuate leg providing the connection between the intermittent member and the other detent for undogging purposes. A further feature is that the operating member for the intermittent member is coaxial with one of the detents and a locking lever for moving the intermittent member between locked and unlocked positions is coaxial with the other detent.

These and other features of the door lock of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a vehicle body embodying a door lock according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken away view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the bolt moving to unlatched position; and

FIG. 5 is a broken away perspective view with the bolt in unlatched position.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a vehicle body designated generally includes a front door 12 which is swingably mounted adjacent its forward edge 14 on the body 10 for movement between a closed position as shown and an open position, not shown. Door 12 is held in closed position by a door lock designated generally 16 according to this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings, the lock 16 includes a main frame 18 which fits against the inner surface of the lock pillar wall 20 of door 12 and is secured thereto in a conventional manner. An auxiliary frame 22 is located in laterally spaced relationship to the main frame 18 and secured thereto by a number of staked tabs 24 provided on various lateral flanges of the frame 18. Pivoted at 26 to the frames 18 and 22 is an inverted fork bolt 28. A coil torsion spring 30 surrounds the pivot 26 and is hooked between a stud 32 of the bolt and a notched flange 34 of frame 18 to continuously bias bolt 28 clockwise from latched position, shown in FIG. 2, to unlatched position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As indicated schematically in FIGS. 2 and 4, the frame 18 is cut away at 36 and likewise the flange 34 is also cut away, not shown, to provide for entrance of a conventional headed striker pin 38 into the space between frames 18 and 22. When the bolt is in latched position, the shank of the pin is conventionally received within the throat of the bolt 28 and the head of the pin is conventionally trapped between a ramp 40 and a pivoted shoe 42.

A primary detent 44 is pivoted at 46 to the frames 18 and 22. A coil torsion spring 48 surrounding the pin 46 is hooked between a notched tab 50 of the detent and a notched tab 52 of the frame 18 to continuously bias the detent counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 and hold the detent foot 54 in engagement with a shoulder 56 provided on the inner edge of the inboard leg of the bolt 28. A secondary detent 58 is pivoted at 60 to the frames 18 and 22 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a coil torsion spring 62 hooked between a notched lateral tab 64 of the secondary detent and a notched lateral flange 66 of the frame 18. The detent foot 68 engages the bolt 28 at the base thereof and in spaced relationship to a shoulder 70 of the bolt. The engagement of the foot 68 and shoulder 70 defines the secondary latched position of the bolt 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the door 12 includes a conventional outside door handle 72 which includes a conventional push button assembly 74. As shown in the drawings, the push rod 76 of the push button assembly reciprocates vertically within a bushing in a lateral flange 78 of the frame 18. A push button lever 80 is pivoted at 82 to the frame 22 and includes a lateral flange 84 which is adapted to be engaged by the push rod 76 to rotate the push button lever counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. Non'nally the push button lever is located as shown in FIG. 2 by the engagement of a leg 86 of the lever with a lateral tab 88 of frame 22 under the action of a tension spring 90 which interconnects another apertured leg of the push button lever and the shoe 42. 1

An operating bellcrank lever 92 is coaxially pivoted at 46 with the primary detent and has an arcuately edged leg 94 thereof received within an opening 96 of the lever 80 to pivotally couple the push button lever and the operating lever. A generally J-shaped elongated intermittent member 98 is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof at 100 to the operating lever 92. The curved or hook-shaped leg of the intermittent member includes a lateral tab or flange 102 providing an undogging abutment as will be further described, and the other generally linear leg includes an ofi'set lateral flange 104 which is best shown in FIG. 5.

A coupling link 106 is pivoted at 108 to the secondary detent 58 and includes a lateral flange 1 10 which overlies flange 104 of the intermittent member 98 when the intermittent member is in its coupled or unlocked position shown in FIG. 2, as will be further explained.

A locking lever 112 is coaxially pivoted at 60 with the secondary detent 58 and includes a lateral tab 114 slidably received within a closed elongated slot 1 16 of the intermittent member to pivotally and slidably couple the locking lever and intermittent member. The locking lever is conventionally connected by shiftable rods 1 I8 and 120 to a conventional outside key cylinder assembly 122 and garnish button 124, respectively, shown in FIG. 1.

The locking lever 112 and intermittent member 98 are shown in unlocked position in FIG. 2, and it will be noted that in this position the flange 104 of the intermittent member underlies the flange of the coupling link 106. When the locking lever is moved to locked position, clockwise of its position shown, by actuation of either the garnish button or the key cylinder assembly, the intermittent member 98 is swung slightly counterclockwise about the pivot 100 to uncouled or locked position. Flange 110 is now located in bypass position, or to the right of flange 104, to thereby uncouple the intermittent member and the link 106. The locking lever is selectively and alternately biased to either position by an overcenter type coil torsion spring 126 hooked between the frame 22 and the lever. The engagement of the locking lever with lateral flanges 128 and 130 locates the locking lever in its unlocked and locked positions, respectively, under the action of spring 126.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the link 106 includes a closed elongated slot 132 which receives a headed pin 134 secured to the frame 18 to thereby guide vertical movement of the link 106. Also as shown in FIG. 5, the upper arcuately flanged end 136 of the link underlies a foot 138 of the primary detent 44. Foot I38 seats against a tab 140 of frame 18 under the action of spring 48 to locate the primary detent 44 in holding or detented position as shown in FIG. 2.

When the door 12 is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 1, the bolt will be maintained in its fully latched position as shown in FIG. 2 by the engagement of foot 54 of the primary detent 44 with shoulder 56. Should it be desired to open the door, the push button 74 is actuated to shift the rod 76 downwardly and thereby engage the rod with the flange 84 of the lever 80. This will shift the lever 80 counterclockwise of the pivot 82 against the action of spring 90 and in turn rotate the lever 92 clockwise to bodily shift the intermittent member 98 upwardly from its position shown in FIG. 2. The engagement of the flange 104 with the flange 110 will shift the link 106 upwardly to rotate the secondary detent 58 clockwise of pivot 60 to released position as foot 68 moves out of the path of shoulder 70 of bolt 28. The engagement of the flanged end 136 of link 106 with the foot 138 of detent 44 rotates the primary detent clockwise to released position as foot 54 moves out of engagement with shoulder 56. Bolt 28 can then rotate clockwise to unlatched position shown in FIG. 4. Upon release of the push button 74, the intermittent member returns to its position shown in FIG. 4 and the primary and secondary detents likewise return to their positions shown in FIG. 4 due to the engagement of the edge of foot 68 of the secondary detent 58 with the abutment of bolt 28 which provides shoulder 70, as shown in FIG. 4. Should the door 12 now be closed, the engagement of the shank of striker pin 38 with the inboard leg of the bolt 28 will rotate the bolt counterclockwise from its position shown in FIG. 4 to its position shown in FIG. 2. During this movement, the secondary detent 58 rotates slightly clockwise of pivot 60 and then rotates counterclockwise when foot 68 passes shoulder 70. The primary detent 44 likewise rotates slightly clockwise and then counterclockwise with the secondary detent to locate foot 54 in the path of the inboard leg of bolt 28. The primary detent rotates clockwise independently of the secondary detent when foot 54 engages the inboard leg of the bolt and moves past such leg into engagement with the shoulder 56 to maintain the bolt in latched position as shown in FIG. 2.

Should either the garnish button 124 or the key cylinder 122 be operated with the door in open position to move the intermittent member 98 to uncoupled position, tab 102 will be located as schematically indicated at 102 in FIG. 4. When the door is closed, the initial slightly clockwise movement of detent 44, as previously set forth, will engage an upwardly extending leg 14] of the primary detent with the undogging tab 102 of the intermittent member to rotate the intermittent member 98 slightly clockwise of pivot I and thereby return the intermittent member to coupled position and the locking lever I 12 to unlock position. Thus, automatic undogging is accomplished.

Keyiess locking is accomplished by depression of the push button 74 as the door is closed to shift the tab 102 upwardly and out of the path of the detent leg 140 as the door is closed to thereby maintain the intermittent member 98 in uncoupled position.

A conventional inside remote handle assembly 142, FIG. 1, is connected by a shiftable rod 144 to one leg of an inside remote lever 146 pivoted at 148 on a lateral flange 150 of frame 22. As shown best in FIG. 5, the other leg of the inside remote lever overlies a leg 152 of the lever 92 so that actuation of the inside remote handle will release the bolt when the intermediate member 98 is in uncoupled position. Since the inside remote handle is connected to the secondary detent through the intermittent member, the position of the intermittent member controls both the coupling and uncoupling of the push button assembly 74 and the inside remote handle.

Thus, this invention provides an improved vehicle body door lock.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, a fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions, means adjacent one end of the intermittent member engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled position and uncoupled position, wherein the means on the intermittent member bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, and means adjacent the other end of the intermittent member engageable by means on one of the detent means upon movement of the one detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position.

2. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, a fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions, the member including a generally linear leg extending in the general direction of the bolt throat and a generally arcuate leg extending transverse of the bolt throat, means on the linear leg engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled position and uncoupled position wherein the means on the linear leg bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member .by the operating member, and means on the arcuate leg engageable by one of the detent means upon movement of the one detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position.

3. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, an inverted fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated generally .I-shaped intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions, the member including a generally linear leg located to one side of the bolt and extending in the general direction of the bolt throat and a generally hook shaped leg located to another side of the bolt and extending transversely of the bolt throat, means adjacent the free end of the linear leg engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled positions and uncoupled position, wherein the means on the linear leg bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, and means adjacent the free end of the hook shaped leg engageable by means on the primary detent means upon movement of the primary detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position. 4. in a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, an inverted fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means pivotally mounted on the frame respectively above and below the bolt for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the member including a generally linear leg extending from the pivot thereof alongside the bolt and a generally arcuate leg extending from the pivot thereof above the bolt throat and the pivot of the primary detent, means adjacent one end of the linear leg engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled position and uncoupled position wherein the means on the linear leg bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, and means on the arcuate leg engageable by an upwardly extending arm of the primary detent means upon movement of the primary detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position. 

1. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, a fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions, means adjacent one end of the intermittent member engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled position and uncoupled position, wherein the means on the intermittent member bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, and means adjacent the other end of the intermittent member engageable by means on one of the detent means upon movement of the one detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position.
 2. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, a fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions, the member including a generally linear leg extending in the general direction of the bolt throat and a generally arcuate leg extending transverse of the bolt throat, means on the linear leg engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled position and uncoupled position wherein the means on the linear leg bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, and means on the arcuate leg engageable by one of the detent means upon movement of the one detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position.
 3. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, an inverted fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated generally J-shaped intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between coupled and uncoupled positions, the member including a generally linear leg located to one side of the bolt and extending in the general direction of the bolt throat and a generally hook shaped leg located to another side of the bolt and extending transversely of the bolt throat, means adjacent the free end of the linear leg engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled positions and uncoupled position, wherein the means on the linear leg bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the oPerating member, and means adjacent the free end of the hook shaped leg engageable by means on the primary detent means upon movement of the primary detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position.
 4. In a vehicle body door lock having a lock frame, an inverted fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, primary and secondary detent means pivotally mounted on the frame respectively above and below the bolt for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt to maintain the bolt in respective primary and secondary latched positions, and motion transferring means interconnecting the detent means for simultaneous movement of both to released position with respect to the bolt, the improvement comprising, an operating member movably mounted on the frame, an elongated intermittent member swingably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the operating member for movement thereby and independently thereof between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the member including a generally linear leg extending from the pivot thereof alongside the bolt and a generally arcuate leg extending from the pivot thereof above the bolt throat and the pivot of the primary detent, means adjacent one end of the linear leg engageable with the motion transferring means in the coupled position of the intermittent member for actuating the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, locking means for moving the intermittent member independently of the operating member between coupled position and uncoupled position wherein the means on the linear leg bypass the motion transferring means upon movement of the intermittent member by the operating member, and means on the arcuate leg engageable by an upwardly extending arm of the primary detent means upon movement of the primary detent means by the bolt for moving the intermittent member from uncoupled to coupled position. 